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Plan Z Phase: This is a Z2 (ZReduction) recipe.

One of the tricks to making good burgers when you’re in ZReduction on Plan Z is to find a way to keep them as moist and juicy as possible. Usually, the secret to a good burger is the fat content. The higher the fat content, the juicier the burger. I’m asking you to use 93% lean ground sirloin, so that makes it challenging to make a juicy burger when most burgers are about 20% fat; not 7% fat like you are using. If you’re not dieting, you can have all the fat you want in your ground beef.

My favorite technique for cooking low-fat burgers is to quickly sear the burger and finish it by roasting it in the oven. Here’s the recipe for seared burgers that are then oven-roasted.

Servings: Serves 2. Can easily be doubled.

Ingredients: 

• 16 oz of ground sirloin (93/7% lean). You are allowed up to 8 oz patties but you can make smaller ones if you choose. I like 4 oz or maybe 6 oz. I can’t eat a full 8 oz burger.
• Montreal Steak seasoning or seasoning of your choice that follows Plan Z guidelines

Optional:

• Beefsteak tomato slices
• onion slices or sauteed onions

Equipment:

• I use a cast iron pan for my burgers. That way I can sear them on the stovetop and then just transfer them to the oven. Either way, you are going to need to use a pan that can handle the oven heat.

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Spray a cast iron (or ovenproof) pan with olive oil. Form your burger patties. Season the burger patties on top to your liking.

Heat the pan on medium-high until hot. Add the burgers. Spray the tops of the burgers with more olive oil.

Sear for 4 minutes on medium-high. Then flip the burgers.

You are now going to transfer them to the oven.

Here’s the tricky part: How long to cook.

If the patties are 8 oz they are obviously going to take more time than a 4 oz burger.

I cook them for about 5 – 7 minutes and then begin to check them with a meat thermometer. The 4 oz patties might already be done. You are looking for 160 degrees on your thermometer. The 8 oz patties might take about 5 minutes more. 160 degrees will give you a burger with some pink still in the middle but not medium-rare. More medium to medium-well.

Serve the burger on a big piece of iceberg lettuce, with a thick slice of tomato. Maybe add a slice of onion, too.

If you want to jazz it up a bit more and have BBQ Ranch Burgers, make this sauce and put a smear on the burger before you top it with the tomato and onion.

Enjoy!

Cheers,